Site Improvement Plan. Mendip Limestone Grasslands SAC. Improvement Programme for England's Natura 2000 Sites (IPENS) Planning for the Future

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1 Improvement Programme for England's Natura 2000 Sites (IPENS) Planning for the Future Site Improvement Plan Mendip Limestone Grasslands Site Improvement Plans (SIPs) have been developed for each Natura 2000 site in England as part of the Improvement Programme for England's Natura 2000 sites (IPENS). Natura 2000 sites is the combined term for sites designated as Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) and Special Protected Areas (SPA). This work has been financially supported by LIFE, a financial instrument of the European Community. The plan provides a high level overview of the issues (both current and predicted) affecting the condition of the Natura 2000 features on the site(s) and outlines the priority measures required to improve the condition of the features. It does not cover issues where remedial actions are already in place or ongoing management activities which are required for maintenance. The SIP consists of three parts: a Summary table, which sets out the priority Issues and Measures; a detailed s table, which sets out who needs to do what, when and how much it is estimated to cost; and a set of tables containing contextual information and links. Once this current programme ends, it is anticipated that and others, working with landowners and managers, will all play a role in delivering the priority measures to improve the condition of the features on these sites. The SIPs are based on 's current evidence and knowledge. The SIPs are not legal documents, they are live documents that will be updated to reflect changes in our evidence/knowledge and as actions get underway. The information in the SIPs will be used to update England's contribution to the UK's Prioritised Framework (PAF). The SIPs are not formal consultation documents, but if you have any comments about the SIP or would like more information please us at IPENSLIFEProject@naturalengland.org.uk, or contact 's Responsible Officer for the site via our enquiry service , or enquiries@naturalengland.org.uk This Site Improvement Plan covers the following Natura 2000 site(s) UK /8

2 Site description The is comprised of three areas: Brean Down, Uphill Cliff, and Crook Peak to Shute Shelve Hill. Brean Down and Uphill Cliff are coastal while Crook Peak to Shute Shelve Hill extends to some 15km inland. The sites are located on the Carboniferous Limestone which forms much of the Mendip Hills. The SAC supports the largest area of CG1 Festuca ovina - Carlina vulgaris grassland in the British Isles. Also present is CG2 Festuca ovina - Avenula pratensis grassland which often occurs as a mosaic with the CG1. The site is exceptional in that it supports a number of rare and scarce vascular plants typical of the oceanic southern temperate and Mediterranean elements of the British flora. These include white rock-rose Helianthemum appeninum, Somerset hair-grass Koeleria vallesiana and honewort Trinia glauca. Transitions to limestone heath occur on Crook Peak to Shute Shelve Hill. Also present are caves and Tilio-acerion woodland, the caves being hibernacula for Greater horseshoe bat Rhinolophus ferrumequinum. Plan Summary This table shows the prioritised issues for the site(s), the features they affect, the proposed measures to address the issues and the delivery bodies whose involvement is required to deliver the measures. The list of delivery bodies will include those who have agreed to the actions as well as those where discussions over their role in delivering the actions is on-going. Priority & Issue Pressure or Threat Feature(s) affected Measure Delivery Bodies 1 Inappropriate scrub control Threat H6210 Dry grasslands and scrublands on chalk or limestone (important orchid sites) Control scrub through funding or supporting existing local partnership National Trust, 2 Change in land management Threat H6210 Dry grasslands and scrublands on chalk or limestone (important orchid sites) Ensure stocking levels are maintained National Trust, 3 Disease Threat H9180 Mixed woodland on base-rich soils associated with rocky slopes Monitor for disease outbreak and mitigate effects Forestry Commission, National Trust, 4 Air Pollution: impact of atmospheric nitrogen deposition Pressure H4030 European dry heaths, H6210 Dry grasslands and scrublands on chalk or limestone (important orchid sites), H9180 Mixed woodland on base-rich soils associated with rocky slopes Control and reduce the impacts of atmospheric nitrogen deposition 2/8

3 Issues and s This table outlines the prioritised issues that are currently impacting or threatening the condition of the features, and the outstanding actions required to address them. It also shows, where possible, the estimated cost of the action and the delivery bodies whose involvement will be required to implement the action. Lead delivery bodies will be responsible for coordinating the implementation of the action, but not necessarily funding it. Delivery partners will need to support the lead delivery body in implementing the action. In the process of developing the SIPs has approached the delivery bodies to seek agreement on the actions and their roles in delivering them, although in some cases these discussions have not yet been concluded. Other interested parties, including landowners and managers, will be involved as the detailed actions are agreed and delivered. s are indicated as potential (but not necessarily agreed or secured) sources to fund the actions. 1 Inappropriate scrub control Scrub growth is a major problem on the Mendip Limestone Grasslands. It is possible that the resources available to counter this threat will be insufficient to deal with the problem. There is the potential to lose a significant area of the limestone grassland and heathland features to advancing scrub. description 1A Clear scrub from limestone grassland and heath and manage any further scrub encroachment. 60, Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE): Environmental Stewardship Higher Level Scheme (HLS) Rural Development Programme (RDPE) National Trust description 1B Source alternative funding to help control scrub, to bridge funding gaps. Included in costs for action 1A not identified / develop mechanism National Trust 3/8

4 2 Change in land management All three areas are difficult to manage due to both terrain and vegetation. Difficulties have arisen in the past in both getting and retaining graziers. They are currently in agrienvironment schemes which provide support for the management of the SAC. description 2A Ensure adequate grazing by supporting the National Trust who will provide graziers, funded through Rural Development schemes. 5, Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE): Environmental Stewardship Higher Level Scheme (HLS) Rural Development Programme (RDPE) National Trust 3 Disease The Tilio-acerion woodland components of the site are dominated by ash. If Chalara continues to spread these woodlands will be very vulnerable to attack. description 3A Monitor for presence of Chalara on the site Investigation / Research / Monitoring Forestry Commission, National Trust description 3B Design and implement a biosecurity plan to reduce the likelihood of disease Bio-security plan Forestry Commission 4 Air Pollution: impact of atmospheric nitrogen deposition Nitrogen deposition exceeds site relevant critical loads. Nitrogen deposition exceeds site relevant critical loads. Impacts of exceedance could include: changes in ground vegetation; decline in lichens; decline in diversity; increased mineralisation; N leaching; surface acidification, and increased sensitivity to abiotic stress. description 4A Control, reduce and ameliorate atmospheric nitrogen impacts Site Nitrogen Plan 4/8

5 Site details The tables in this section contain site-relevant contextual information and links Qualifying features #UK Special responsibility S1304 Rhinolophus ferrumequinum: Greater horseshoe bat H4030 European dry heaths H6210# Semi-natural dry grasslands and scrubland facies: on calcareous substrates (Festuco-Brometalia) H8310 Caves not open to the public H9180# Tilio-Acerion forests of slopes, screes and ravines Site location and links Area (ha) Grid reference ST Map link Local Authorities Site Conservation Objectives European Marine Site conservation advice Regulation 33/35 Package Marine Management Organisation site plan North Somerset; Somerset European Site Conservation Objectives for 5/8

6 Water Framework Directive (WFD) The Water Framework Directive (WFD) provides the main framework for managing the water environment throughout Europe. Under the WFD a management plan must be developed for each river basin district. The River Basin Management Plans (RMBP) include a summary of the measures needed for water dependent Natura 2000 sites to meet their conservation objectives. For the second round of RBMPs, SIPs are being used to capture the priorities and new measures required for water dependent habitats on Natura 2000 sites. SIP actions for non-water dependent sites/habitats do not form part of the RBMPs and associated consultation. River basin Severn RBMP WFD Management catchment WFD Waterbody ID (Cycle 2 draft) Bristol Avon & North Somerset Streams 6/8

7 Overlapping or adjacent protected sites Site(s) of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) National Nature Reserve (NNR) Brean Down SSSI Crook Peak to Shute Shelve Hill SSSI Uphill Cliff SSSI Ramsar Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) and Special Protection Areas (SPA) 7/8

8 Version 1.0 Date 13/03/2015 Comment 8/8